Lump crusher and feeder



April 2, 1968 D. B. ROBBINS LUMP CRUSHER AND FEEDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 I NVENTOR. Dav/s 5. Robbins 4 f/arwggs April 1968 D- B. ROBBINS 3,375,984

LUMP CRUSHER AND FEEDER Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet :3

- H I INVENTOR.

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LUMP CRUSHER AND FEEDER Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheen s x; m M Li :2 U L rmwzm fix F g 47 K M.

M M #M Affamgys A ril 2, 1968 D. B. ROBBINS 3,375,984

, LUMP CRUSHER AND FEEDER Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A ffornggs United States Patent On ice 3,375,984 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 3,375,984 LUMP CRUSHER AND FEEDER Davis R. Robbins, I.O. Box 2664, Birmingham, Ala. 35202 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,507 Claims. (Cl. 24169) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lump crusher and feeder having a grizzly with 'a pair of oppositely disposed crusher members mounted superjacent the grizzly. Means is provided to move the crusher members toward and away from each other to engage opposite sides of lumps. Vertically spaced spikes facing each other are carried by the crusher members with the lowermost spikes projecting beyond the uppermost spikes.

This invention relates to a lump crusher and feeder and more particularly to apparatus for crushing and feeding large lumps of materials such :as coal, ore and the like after such materials have been dumped onto a grizzly whereby the materials are fed downwardly between the grizzly bars in an eflicient manner.

An object of my invention is to provide a lump crusher and feeder of the character designated which shall include 'a pair of oppositely disposed crusher members which are mounted superjacent the grizzly in position to engage opposite sides of the lumps, each crusher member being provided with vertically spaced spikes, the lowermost ones of which project beyond the uppermost spikes in position to crush the lower portions of the lumps prior to movement of the uppermost spikes into engagement with the lumps, thereby eliminating the possibility of large lumps remaining adjacent the upper surface of the grizzly to impede the flow of materials therethrough.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lump crusher and feeder of the character designated which shall have upstanding hopper walls surrounding the grizzly, with certain ones of the hopper walls carried by a movable crusher member whereby the materials at one side of the hopper are forced across the upper surface of the grizzly bars as the crushing operation takes place to thus aid in the feeding of materials through the grizzly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lump crusher and feeder of the character designated which shall include means for moving the crusher members toward each other whereby both ends of each crusher member move concomitantly to those assure 'a uniform and .efiicient crushing operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lump crusher and feeder of the character designated which is self-cleaning in that all materials are continuously conveyed inwardly and then downwardly between the grizzly bars without any residual materials remaining in certian areas for long periods of time.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a lump crusher and feeder of the character designated which shall be extremely simple of construction, economical of manufacture, and one which is automatic in operation, thereby eliminating the dangerous and costly task of removing or crushing lumps which become lodged between the grizzly bars and other parts of the apparatus. Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in the crushing and feeding of materials, such "as coal, ore and the like, due to the fact that large lumps of such materials move to a position superjacent the grizzly bars and are too large to feed downwardly between the grizzly bars. Accordingly, it has been necessary to remove such large lumps of materials by hand picks and the like. Not only is this a very dangerous and arduous task to perform, but is ex pensive and requires an interruption in the operation of the apparatus.

Briefly, my improved lump crusher and feeder comprises a grizzly mounted in position to gauge the size of the lumps to be fed. A pair of oppositely disposed crusher members are mounted superjacent the grizzly bars in position to engage opposite sides of the lumps to be fed and means is provided to move the crusher members toward and away from each other. Each crusher member carries a plurality of vertically spaced spikes which face each other. Also, the lowermost ones of the vertically spaced spikes project beyond the uppermost spikes in position to crush the lower portion of the lumps prior to movement of the uppermost spikes into engagement with the lumps thereby facilitating free flow of the materials between the grizzly bars.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the overall apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side elevational view showing the upper portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, partly broken away;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the lines 5-5 of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmental view showing the manner in which the lumps are crushed upon relative movement of the crusher members.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, 1 show a hopper 10 for receiving materials 11 to be crushed, such as coal, ore and the like. The hopper 10 comprises -a grizzly having a plurality of grizzly bars 12 which are spaced from each other to control the size of the materials fed downwardly therebetween. The side of the hopper 10 which receives the materials from a suitable source, such as .a dump body 13, is provided with a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall 14. The side of the hopper 10 opposite the sloping wall 14 is provided with an upstanding movable wall 16 which is adapted to move toward and away from the sloping wall 14 in a manner .to be described hereinafter.

Secured to opposite ends of the sloping wall 14 are vertical wall sections 17. Mounted for sliding movement relative to the vertical wall sections 17 are vertical wall sections 18. Surrounding the overlapped wall sections 17 and 18 is a vertical guide frame 1? which comprises spaced apart vertical members 21 and 22 adapted to engage the wall sections 17 and 18, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. The lower ends of the vertical guide frames 19 are secured to I-beams 23, which extend longitudinally along opposite ends of the hopper 10. The upper ends of the vertical members 21 and 22. are connected to each other by a transverse member 24 to hold the vertical members 21 and 22in spaced relation to each other whereby the wall sections 18 are adapted to slide relative to the wall sections 17 and the adjacent surface of the vertical member 22. To facilitate movement of the Wall sections 13 relative to the vertical members 22, I provide elongated guide members 26 and 27 adjacent the outer surface of the wall sections 18 in position to engage the inner surface of the vertical guide member 22.

Opposite ends of the vertical wall 16 are secured rigidly generally to the elongated members 26 and 27 and the adjacent edge of the vertical wall sections 18 by suitable means, such as by welding, whereby the vertical wall sections 18 move the vertical member 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical member 16 comprises an elongated box-like member 28 at the lower edge thereof which is adapted to ride along the upper surfaces of the grizzly bars 12. Secured to the inner portion of the box-like member 28 is a vertical plate 29 which extends the entire length of the vertical member 16 to form an inner surface for the vertical wall 16. Vertically spaced spikes 31 are carried by the inner surface of the vertical plate 29. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the spikes 31 extend inwardly in parallel relation to the grizzly bars 12. The lowermost spikes 31 project a substantial distance beyond the uppermost spikes 31, as shown, whereby the lowermost spikes are in position to crush the lower portions of the lumps 11 prior to movement of the uppermost spikes 31 into engagement with the lumps. Accordingly, the lower portion of the lump 11 is always crushed or broken away prior to crushing the upper portion thereof to facilitate free movement of the materials downwardly between the grizzly bars.

Mounted for sliding movement along the upper surfaces of the grizzly bars 12 and in position to engage the lower edge of the sloping walls 14 is an elongated crusher member 32, which also extends the entire width of the hopper 10. The crusher member 32 has a bottom wall 33, a top wall 34, a vertical inner wall 36 and a vertical rear wall 37. Also, suitable brace elements 38 are provided to add strength to the crusher member 32. Secured to and projecting inwardly of the vertical inner wall 36 are a plurality of vertically spaced spikes 39 which extend inwardly toward the spikes 31. Also, the lowermost spikes 39 project a substantial distance beyond the uppermost spikes 39 so that the lowermost spikes 39 are in position to engage and crush the lower portions of the lumps 11 prior to movement of the uppermost spikes 39 into engagement with the lumps. That is to say, the lowermost spikes 39 cooperate with the lowermost spikes 31 to breakaway or crush the lower portion of the large lumps 11 prior to engagement of the uppermost spikes 31 and 39. As shown in FIG. 6, the lowermost end of the sloping wall 14 is secured to a horizontal plate 41 which slidably engages the upper surface of the wall 34 of the crusher member 32. The close clearance between the upper wall 34 of the crusher member 32 and the adjacent portions of the sloping wall 14 and horizontal plate 41 prevent the escape of the material 11 therebetween.

Extending transversely of the I-beams 23 and supported by suitable bearings 42 and 43 are a pair of shafts 43-4 and a single shaft 46, respectively. Mounted non-rotatably on each of the shafts 44 are sprockets 47. Mounted non-rotatably adjacent the opposite ends of the shaft 46 are sprockets 48. Passing around sprockets 47 and 48 at side of the apparatus and extending generally parallel to the I-beams 23 and perpendicular to the grizzly bars 12 are sprocket chains 49. The upper flight of each sprocket chain 49 is secured to the box-member 28 by suitable pins 51. The lower flight of each sprocket chain 49 is secured to the crusher member 32 by suitable pins 52. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end of the box member 28 projects beyond each end of the vertical member 16 whereby the sprocket chain 49 passes over the end of the box-like member 28 and is secured thereto by the pins 51. In like manner, the crusher member 32 is provided with outwardly projecting box-like members 28 in position to be secured to the lower flight of chain 49 by the pins 52.

Secured to each of the outwardly projecting members 23 is a piston rod 53 of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 54. Fluid under pressure is supplied to opposite ends of the cylinder 54 by suitable conduits 55. The piston rod 53 is moved selectively in opposite directions to move the crusher spikes 31. and 39 toward and away from each each other. That is, upon moving the piston 53 toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 3, the spikes 39 are moved toward the left and the sprockets 47 and 48 are rotated in a clockwise direction to thus cause the upper flight of the sprocket chain 49 to move toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, to thus move the member 16 and the spikes 31 carried thereby toward the spikes 39. Accordingly, the spikes 31 and 39 move inwardly toward each other to the position shown in FIG. 6, whereupon the lumps 11 are crushed. As the upstanding member 16 and spikes 31 are moved toward the right, as viewed in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the vertical wall sections 13 are also moved toward the right whereby they slide relative to the adjacent wall sections 17.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the receiving hopper 10 may be supported by a suitable foundation 56 to provide a large bin for receiving the materials after they have passed downwardly between the grizzly bars 12. The bin is divided by a vertical partition 57 which terminates adjacent the undersurface of the grizzly bars 12 to divide the bin into separate compartments 58 and 59. Downwardly and inwardly sloping walls 61 and 62 are provided in the compartments 53 and 59, respectively, for directing the materials downwardly onto a suitably conveyor belt 63, which is adapted to convey the materials to grading and loading bins, not shown, A sliding gate 64 is provided at the bottom of the compartment 58 and a sliding gate 66 is provided at the bottom of the compartment 59 in position to control the flow of materials onto the conveyor 63. As shown in FIG. 2, the gate 64 is moved to open position whereas the gate 66 is in closed position. By providing the vertical partition 57, the materials dumped on the grizzly bars at one side of the partition 57 fall into the compartment 58 whereas the materials dumped on the other side of the partition 57 fall into the compartment 59, thus making it possible to dump different type materials selectively into either of the compartments.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. The materials to be fed, such as coal, are dumped into receiving hopper 10 whereupon they move downwardly into engagement with the grizzly bars 12. The fluid pressure operated cylinders 54 are actuated whereupon the piston rod 53 moves toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 3, to thus move the spikes 31 and 39 toward each other whereupon the lowermost forwardly projecting spikes 31 and 39 engage the lower portion of the lumps 11 to thus breakaway the lower portion of the lump prior to engagement of the uppermost spikes 31 and 39 with the lumps. Accordingly, the lower portion of each large lump of material is broken away and discharged downwardly between the grizzly bars 12 prior to engagement of the uppermost spikes 31 and 39 with the lumps. The materials broken away are thus removed immediately whereby they do not fall downwardly around other lumps to prevent crushing thereof. Preferably, the spikes 31 are positioned in offset relationship to the spikes 39 whereby they do not engage each other as the spikes move inwardly toward each other.

After the lumps have been crushed, as shown in FIG. 6, fluid under pressure is introduced into the cylinder 54 to retract the piston rod 53 whereupon the sprocket chain 49 is moved in a direction to impart counterclockwise rotation to the sprockets 47 and 48 to thus move the spikes 31 and 39 away from each other, whereupon additional materials 11 fall downwardly into engagement with the grizzly bars 12. This operation is continued intermittently whereby the large lumps of material 11 superjacent the grizzly bars 12 are removed in an eificient manner to prevent clogging of the grizzly bars and facilitate the flow of the materials through the hopper. By moving the vertical wall 16 inwardly toward the sloping wall 14 each time the spikes 31 and 39 are moved toward each other, the material 11 is also moved inwardly across the grizzly bars 12 to thus further aid in moving the materials through the grizzly.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved lump crusher and feeder which is effective to break away large lumps of material, such as coal, ore and the like, whereby the bottom portion of each lump is broken for passage down through a grizzly prior to breakage of the upper portion thereof. Accordingly, the broken away portion is immediately removed by falling downwardly between the grizzly bars whereby it does not interfere with the crushing of the remainder of the lump positioned superjacent the grizzly. Also, by providing fluid pressure operated cylinders which are operatively connected to opposite ends of crusher members, both ends of each crusher member are moved simultaneously toward and away from each other to thus assure uniform and even movement of the crusher members relative to each other. Furthermore, by providing a lump crusher and feeder having members which move toward and away from each other and in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the grizzly bars, the materials are continuously moved across the grizzly to agitate the materials and further facilitate movement of the materials downwardly through the grizzly.

While I have shown the crusher members as being moved relative to each other by endless chain members, it will be apparent that fluid pressure operated cylinders may be employed to impart force directly to the crusher members where higher crushing forces are required.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it

will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lump crusher and feeder comprising:

(a) a grizzly mounted in position to gauge the size of the lumps to be fed,

(b) a pair of oppositely disposed crusher members mounted superjacent said grizzly in position to engage opposite sides of said lumps,

(c) an endless chain-like member mounted for rota tion on sprocket-like members adjacent at least one side of said crusher members and having an upper flight and a lower flight,

((1) means operatively connecting said upper flight to one of said crusher members,

(e) means operatively connecting said lower flight to the other of said crusher members,

(f) means to impart rotation to said chain-like member to move said crusher members toward and away from each other, and

(g) vertically spaced spikes carried by said crusher members with the spikes of one crusher member facing the spikes of the other crusher member and with the lowermost ones of said vertically spaced spikes projecting beyond the uppermost ones thereof in position to crush the lower portions of the lumps prior to movement of the uppermost ones of said spikes into engagement with the lumps.

2. A lump crusher and feeder as defined in claim 1 in which an endless chain-like member is mounted adjacent opposite sides of said crusher members and means is provided to operatively connect said chain-like members to each other whereby they are driven simultaneously to move both ends of each crusher member simultaneously.

3. A lump crusher and feeder as defined in claim 2 in which the sprocket-like members at opposite ends of at least one member are connected rigidly to each other by a shaft-like member.

4. A lump crusher and feeder comprising:

(a) a grizzly mounted in position to support the lumps to be fed,

(b) upstanding walls surrounding said grizzly to define ahopper,

(c) a pair of oppositely disposed crusher members mounted superjacent said grizzly in position to engage opposite sides of said lump,

(d) means to impart relative movement between said crusher members whereby they are moved toward and away from each other,

(e) the walls of said hopper adjacent the ends of said crusher members being in sections which overlap each other with at least one section being adapted to move relative to the other section,

(f) means connecting each end of one of said crusher members to said one section of the wall adjacent thereto whereby said one section moves therewith, and

(g) vertically spaced spikes carried by said crusher members with the spikes of one crusher member facing the spikes of the other crusher member and with the lowermost ones of said vertically spaced spikes projecting beyond the uppermost ones there of in position to crush the lower portions of the lumps prior to movement of the uppermost ones of said spikes into engagement with the lumps.

5. A lump crusher and feeder as defined in claim 4 in which one crusher member is carried by an upstanding wall of the hopper and the other crusher member is mounted for sliding movement beneath a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall of the hopper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner. 

